St. Petersburg is celebrated for its fabulous weather, beautiful vistas, world-class food scene, and thriving cultural atmosphere, but the people of St. Pete truly make this city something special. In appreciation, each month Green Bench Monthly shines a light on one of the many people who make our city unique.
This month’s person is the executive director of the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, Christine Page. First as a club member, then as longtime volunteer, and now as director, Page is passionate about the “world’s largest shuffleboard club.” As she told me, there is “something magical about the place,” and she is enthusiastic about sharing that vision. Simply put, she wants everyone to feel as she does about the club.
From Indy to the ‘Burg
Looking back, no one, including Page, would have predicted she’d end up as the executive director of a nonprofit shuffleboard club. Born and raised in Indianapolis, she graduated from Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography and a desire to get out of the Midwest. She took a chance on a relationship and a graphic design job in Gainesville. Neither worked out, but soon after she arrived in Florida, opportunity knocked again, this time in St. Pete.
Finding “Home”
Over the next few years, she settled in, eventually buying a nearly 100-year-old bungalow in the Euclid-St. Paul neighborhood. Still, it didn’t quite feel like home. Her job as a freelance web developer was okay, but she found herself thinking about how she might turn her deep love for historic buildings into a career. While pondering a move to Washington, D.C., she made a fateful decision. She went to what was then the newly inaugurated Friday Night Shuffle at the Shuffleboard Club. She had long admired the building from the outside, but when she stepped past the gates, she knew. She didn’t need to go away to find old buildings to love or to help. That night, she finally felt at home.
The Shuffleboard Life
From that night forward, the club became an increasingly important part of Page’’s life. She attended the free Friday Night Shuffle, joined a league, and became a pretty good player. She downplays it, but she placed fifth in the women’s single division of the 2017 International Shuffleboard Association’s (ISA) World Championship in Brazil, and in October she’ll be playing in Vienna. She also volunteered lots of time to help nurture the budding resurgence of the Shuffleboard Club. In 2007, she joined the Board, and in 2009 became its president. As president, she oversaw one of the club’s proudest accomplishments: hosting the ISA World Championships. The club kept growing, from its handful of members in 2005 to 1,200 by 2015. By then, it was clear that someone needed to be at the helm full time. In March 2015, Page transitioned from her role as volunteer president to being the club’s first executive director.
Looking Forward
Page is the first to say, she doesn’t do everything alone. The club board is great, and she works with five additional employees and (when needed) 100-plus volunteers. But she also admits the club takes most of her time. Laughing, she remembers: “I used to have other hobbies. Now the club is my life.” She’s not complaining though. She loves her life and her job. She looks forward to helping the 95-year-old Club grow without sacrificing its magic. As she told me, “they’re gonna have to drag me out of here.” So come by, experience the club offerings, and don’t forget to say “Hi” to Page. She’ll probably be there!
Find out more about the Club at stpeteshuffle.com
Nice article we my wife and I have been to St.pete. A couple of times we love it.